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Apothecaries, Bodegas, and Boutiques
Apothecary, bodega, and boutique may not look very similar, but they are all related both in meaning and in origin. Each of these words can be traced back to a Latin word for “storehouse” (apotheca), and each one refers in English to a retail establishment of some sort. Although bodega initially meant “a storehouse for wine,” it now most commonly refers to a grocery store in an urban area, especially one that specializes in Hispanic groceries. Boutique has also taken on new meanings: its first sense in English (“a small retail store”) is still current, but it now may also denote “a small company that offers highly specialized products or services.” Of the three words, apothecary has changed the least; it has gone from referring solely to the person who sells drugs or medicines to also naming the store where such goods are sold.
Examples of boutique in a Sentence
Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2025
The downtown district, filled with cafés, boutiques, and galleries, is on the National Register of Historic Places—and the Sebring International Raceway has racing events throughout the year.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2025
My seven-night journey aboard Heritage Line’s boutique river boat, The Jahan, was an entirely different experience.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2025
This boutique property offers it all—four-poster beds, roaring fireplaces, and plenty of mature gardens for peaceful afternoon strolls.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for boutique
Cite this Entry
“Boutique.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boutique. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
boutique
noun
from French boutique "shop"
Legal Definition
boutique
noun
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